Hey friends and community!

The Brass Strap is a group of four queer creatives, organizers, and food service industry workers that are in the early stages of opening a cooperatively owned queer/lesbian bar in Minneapolis. This space will provide an outlet for people to play music, dance, sell their art, share skills, build families, and above all else, feel safe for generations. We want our space to be as dynamic as our community which is why we want the bar to be a community and worker-owned cooperative. This way, our community has a direct say in what happens with the bar and how it should serve us.

As queer folks, we have unending examples of how we've tried to be ourselves in public spaces and have been met with harassment, bans, and verbal and physical attacks. This all too common feeling of being unwelcome and attacked for being ourselves is just one reason for creating this community space.

We will also change how bars are seen by offering inclusive spaces for people who might not otherwise feel welcome at a bar, such as having sober nights for sober folks and people aged 16 and up. Keep an eye out for info about signing up as a co-op member of The Brass Strap.

Your donations will be used to throw future pop-up events; dance parties, discos, our documentary screening, you name it! 100% of the proceeds from this fundraiser and future events will help us save enough to cover the expenses of opening the bar.

Thanks for your support, and we'll save you a seat at the bar!

xoxo